The editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and a part-time sales assistant at Marks & Spencer have joined the Social Mobility Commission.

Farrah Storr, who has edited the women’s magazine since 2015, and M&S’s Harvey Matthewson are among 12 new commissioners announced by education secretary Damian Hinds today.

They replace previous members of the commission who resigned last year in protest at a lack of government action to improve social mobility.

The new team also includes Alastair Da Costa, chair of Capital City College Group, and Sammy Wright, vice principal of Southmoor Academy in Sunderland.

Dame Martina Milburn had previously been announced as the new chair of the body.

Mr Hinds said: “This new team of commissioners brings together established businessmen and women, policymakers, academics and young people, all with important perspectives to bring.

“The Social Mobility Commission will benefit from the expertise of this diverse mix of individuals, all of whom will bring their own unique stamp to what social mobility means in their lives.

“I look forward to working with the new commission to make our shared vision a reality.”

Dame Martina said: “Many of our new commissioners had modest starts in life and know the barriers that young people must overcome to become successful.

“They are also individuals with the skills, resources and energy to drive real change around the country, united by a passion for fairness and an ability to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The Department for Education said the presence of younger commissioners, as well as members based outside London and the South East, would ensure its work was better represented regionally and help to raise its profile and influence among young people.

The Social Mobility Commission will be comprised of:

• Alastair Da Costa, chair of Capital City College Group
• Liz Williams, group director of Digital Society at BT
• Farrah Storr, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan
• Harvey Matthewson, volunteer, and part-time sales assistant at Marks & Spencer
• Jessica Oghenegweke, project co-ordinator at the Diana Award
• Jody Walker, senior vice-president at TJX Europe (TK Maxx and Home Sense in the UK)
• Pippa Dunn, founder of Broody, helping entrepreneurs and start-ups
• Saeed Atcha, founder and chief executive officer of Xplode magazine
• Sam Friedman, associate professor in sociology at the London School of Economics
• Sammy Wright, vice-principal of Southmoor Academy, Sunderland
• Sandra Wallace, managing partner UK and joint managing director Europe at DLA Piper
• Steven Cooper, outgoing chief executive officer of Barclaycard Business